Sealing strip for steel sash windows



Sept. 2, 1952 R- O. MORGANN ET AL SEALING STRIP FOR STEEL SASH WINDOWS Filed Aug 25, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET l /N l/E'N To 2s 205527 0. Maze-41v RUSSELL J. Bus/=1 p 1952 R. o. MORGANN ETAL SEALING STRIP FOR STEEL SASH WINDOWS 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed Aug. 25, 1950 I I rl l I INVEN Tue;

205527 a MOEG'fllV PUSSELL J. BusH ALWVMM THE/m HT ragzwsys Patented Sept. 2, 1952 ,ITUNITED' STATES PATENT OFFICE v SEALING STRIP FOR STEEL SAS H WINDOWS 7 Robert 0. Morgan and Russell J. Bush, Dayton, Ohio, assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation'of Delaware Application August 25, 1950; Serial No: 181,468

' This invention relates to window constructions, particularly to means for securely holding glass window panes in the window sash by means of a resilient strip of rubber or similar material.

One object of this invention is to provide improved means for resiliently and securely mounting glass panes upon a metal frame consisting of relatively narrow metal bars such as L-section, T-section and channel section bars.

A further object is to provide a window construction having a mounting strip of resilient rubber or similar material extending around the glass pane by which the glass pane may be very simply and quicklyv mounted upon the sash frame-work in weather sealing relation therewith without the use of cement, putty, or other sealing material. 7

Another object is to provide a window construction having a mounting strip of resilient rubber or similar material by means of which any one glass pane may be quickly and efiiciently removed from the window sash in the event of breakage of the glass or' for any other reason, by first removing the wedging filler strip from its groove in the mounting strip and thereafter flexing a pane-retaining lip on the mounting strip out of the way to permit lateral removal of the glass pane.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

' In the drawings:

1' Fig. 1 shows a cross section and perspective views of a fragment of a window construction according to this invention, wherein a glass pane is mounted upon an L-section metal sash member; gFig. 2 shows armodification of Fig. 1 wherein the 'metal sash member is of channel section having upright flanges of differing heights.

Fig. 3 illustrates a tandem arrangement of two glasspanes mountedupon opposite sides of a T-section metal sash member.

Fig.1 4 shows a modification of Fig. 3 showing a double window tandem arrangement. 7

Fig. 5 shows a further modification wherein double glass panes are mounted upon an L-section, metal sash member.

Fig. 6 shows a modification somewhat similar to that of Fig. 3 but having only a single wedging filler strip.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views. 1

The resilient mounting strip interposed between the glass pane and the metal sash membe ineach form of the invention may consist of elastic rubber material or other suitable elastic rubber-like material well known in the plastic arts. Each disclosed form of the mounting strip is of uniform cross section thruout its length and hencethe uncured plastic material can be economically extruded to the desired cross section by the well known extrusion method for making long strips of constant cross section-L Hereinafter the term rubber wherever used is intended to include any suitable elastic rubberlike material which can be substituted for rubber in said mounting strips. e r

In Fig. 1, the rubber mountingstrip I0 is supported by and rests snugly against the L-section metal sash member H; The distortible flanges l2 and i3 on said strip I!) are readily snapped around and snuglyengage the ends of the flanges on;sash member II when strip ID is assembled thereupon and .thus these parts are held together. Strip [0 is provided with a groove l4 into ,Which'the edge of the glass pane l5 fits. Strip ,ID is also provided with an expansible undercut groove l6 located alongside the glass groove [4, thus providing a flexible rubber lip l'l lying between said grooves I4 and I6. When assembling the glasspane l5 upon strip 10 lip ll can be flexed or swung. downwardly (as viewed in Fig. 1) by forcing said lip I1 into the otherwise open groove It until lip I1 is sufficiently out of the way to permit the edge of pane IE to be bodily moved laterally over the depressed lip H and into its groove [4; It is to be understood that this strip I0 may extend around the entire margin-of' glass pane l5, and that thepane l5 may be inserted laterally into its groove l4 by forcing lip llgout of the way wherever this may be necessary. Obviously at the start of such 'assembling, one marginal edge of pane 15 may be inserted directly into its groove [4 without the necessity of flexing lip I! out of the way for such insertion to any great extent. After all edges of glass pane i5. have been in serted into its groove M the lips I! inherently return to their unstressed or normal position substantially as shown in Fig. 1, however with insufficient pressure contact upon pane [5 to provide the desired leak-proof seal between the pane l5 and strip [0. This leak-proof seal is then. obtained as follows. A separate wedging filler strip 20 first has one end thereof forced into the ex-- pansible undercut groove [6 and then a length of filler strip 20 is progressively forced into groove I5 10 fill same along each edge of pane l5.' This filler strip 20 has a cross section width somewhat larger, as desired, than the normal Width of groove l6, hence filler strip 20 will act as a wedge to compress the rubber material on opposed sides thereof and force lip 1 into permanent pressure engagement with pane 5 and so provide the desired weather seal between pane l5 and lip IT. The reaction to the compressing force of lip l1 againstpane I5 is taken on the opposite side of pane l5 by the upright flange 2| of sash member II which, for this purpose, is arranged to extend upwardly and overlap the marginal edge of pane l5. Filler strip 20 also compresses the material of strip I lying between filler strip 20 and the horizontal (as viewed in Fig. 1) metal flange 22 and so provides a pressure seal at this area. Thus it will be seen that the forcible insertion of the single filler strip 20 into its undercut groove l6 maintains the elastic material of strip l0 compressed against both sides of the edge of pane and also against both flanges 2| and 22 of the metal sash member H, or in other words provides a weather seal at all necessary areas. Itiis'to be understood that the structure shown in Fig. 1 ordinarily extends around all edges of pane l5, but that in some installations it may be desirable to extend such sealing structure along only one or more edges of panel I 5. The dot and dash line 25 in Fig. 1 represents the surface of the window frame to which the metal part member may be fixed by screws or other suitable means. It'will be noted that the rubber lip l3 presses upon surface 25 of the window sill or frame and so aids in providing a seal between sash member II and said sill or frame.

. Fig. 2 illustrates a form of the invention which differs from that. of Fig. 1' in the sectional shape of: the metal sash member I l which has a channel section rather than the angle section of Fig. 1. Insofar as applicable the above description regarding Fig. 1 applies also to Fig. 2, similar parts havingthe same reference numerals as in Fig. 1 but with .prime marks added in Fig. 2. In Fig. 2 the mounting strip I0 is nested snugly in the channel section between its longer flange 2| and its shorter flange 23, and so requires no rubber lips extending around the edges of said flanges to retain said strip l0 against lateral displacement relative to its sash member I.

I -.-Also in Fig. 2, the filler strip 20' has a round cross section which facilitates its insertion into the groove I6 without any care required as to rotating the filler strip 20' to anyone correct position relativev to groove l6. After filler strip 20!. forced into its groove Hi to compress the rubber lip against the margin of pane l5, it is held locked therein by the overhanging lips 26 and 2'! of the undercut groove l6.

Fig. 3 shows a window structure wherein two glass..panes.30 and 3| are mounted upon opposite sides of a T-section metal frame member or muntin33. In this form of the invention a single rubber mounting strip 32 has a cross section extending. around and fitting snugly about muntin 33.. This strip 32 can be simply snapped into placearound the T-section muntin 23- (as shown in Fig. .3) by spreading its two halves which hinge apartby a distortion of its elastic material at area-34.. -.After this mounting strip 32 is in place upon:.muntin 33, each glass pane 30 and 3| is assembled and sealed thereupon substantially like pane. I5 is assembled in the structure of Fig. l as above. described- Each of the two wedging filler strips 35. and 3.6 individually'maintains the materialof, strip 32 compressedagainst both sides of the margin of its glass pane and against the adjacent vertical flange of muntin 33.

Fig. 4 shows a double pane window structure wherein double panes 30 and 3| are mounted on each side of the T-section muntin 33' in a manner substantially like the single panes 30 and 3| in Fig. 3 are mounted, as described above. Mounting strip 40 of Fig. 4 has asection which completely encloses its muntin 33" and is assembled thereupon by spreading its two halves apart similarly to the method of assembling strip 32 in Fig. 3, and when snapped into final position its two halves contact along surfaces 4|. Two additional wedging filler strips 42 and 43 and undercut grooves therefor are provided for the two additional panes which are mounted on the left side (as viewed .in Fig. 4) of the vertical flange of muntin 33'. Filler strips 42 and 43 maintain the material of strip 40 compressed against the inserted margins of the two adjacent panes 30 and 3|, and also maintains the material compressed together along the dividing surfacerepresented-by line4| in Fig. f1.

Fig. 5-shows a structure similar to Fig.1 but wherein two parallel glass panes 50 and Here mounted upon the L-section metal sash member 52. Here the rubber mounting. strip 55 extends on both sides of the vertical flange of sash mem ber 52 and is provided with similar pane grooves and filler strip grooves on the two sides thereof. The two wedging filler strips 56 and 57 maintain the elastic materialof strip 55 compressedagainst the inserted margins of panes 50 and 5| ina manner similar to that described in connection with Fig. 1. However in Fig. 5 thecompression caused by one o'f-the filler strips reacts against the compression caused by the other filler strip, that is, the compression against the inserted margins of the two panes50 and 5| is-causedby the combined compression of both filler strips 56 and 57. The dot and dash line 25 represents the surface of the window frame member to which. sash member 52 is fixed.

Fig. 6 shows a tandem arrangementwhereintwo glass panes 50 and BI .are mounted upon a T-s'ection metal frame member 62 by meansv of the elastic rubber mounting strip 63 which .re-. quires only one wedging filler strip 55 to provide the desired sealing compression against the insertedmargins of both panes 60 and 6|. Mounting strip 63 is formed to a cross section which will fit neatly around and snugly engage the T- section metal member 62, and when snapped; thereupon the normal unstressed shape .ofsaid cross section will inherently cause 'the'-overhanging undercut lips 66 and 61 to close together,,or almost together, and thereby leave, a longitudie nally extending void 64 beneath lips 66 and 61, which void 64 in effect provides a filler strip groove into which a wedging filler strip is laterv forced. After mounting strip '63 is snapped around metal'member 62 the edges of glass'panes 50 and 6| are inserted into the grooves 68 and 39 provided therefor in the manner described with; reference to Fig. 1. 'Then. the wedging fillerstrip 55 is forced down between the overhanging'lips 66 and 61 into the void 64 to compressthe elastic material of strip 63 against the-margins of both panes G0 and 6| at the same time. Obviously'i'nj so doing the elastic material of strip 63 is also compressed against the upright flanges of the T-section member 62 since said flanges'take'the reaction of the spreading wedging action'offlller' strip-65. Thus a compression seal is provided on bothssiides of the marginsof bothglasspanes 5|} In each form of the invention described above, the glass pane may be removed for repair or other purposes by first removing the filler strip or strips which maintains the compression against the pane margins and then outwardly flexing the rubber retaining lip and forcing it down into the open groove from which the filler strip has been removed until the edge of the pane can pass laterally out of its retaining groove in the elastic mounting strip.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

I! hat is claimed is as follows:

1. In a window mounting for buildings, a structural section metal bar having a T-shaped cross section, two opposed window panes mounted respectively upon opposite sides of the stem of said T-shaped bar a mounting strip of resilient rubber like material interposed between said bar and the two panes mounted thereupon, said resilient strip having a longitudinally extending interior void substantially conforming to the section of said bar and a longitudinal slot opening into said void which permits said resilient strip to be assembled upon said bar and substantially enclose same by yieldably opening said slot and passing said bar therethrough, said strip having opposed grooves therein for retaining the margins of said opposed panes, and wedging means interlockingly engaging said resilient strip and maintaining portions thereof compressed against said pane margins.

2. In a window structure, a metal bar of generally T-shaped cross section for mounting two opposed glass window panes upon opposite sides thereof, a mounting strip of resilient rubber-like material snugly retained upon said T-shaped section and substantially enclosing the stem of said T-shaped section, said mounting strip having two opposed longitudinal grooves therein for receiving the margins of said two opposed glass panes respectively, said two opposed grooves each extending alongside and adjacent to a flange of said T-shaped section, said strip having an expansible groove extending adjacent at least one of said pane-receiving grooves, and a filler strip forcibly expanding said expansible groove and compressing the adjacent portions of said mounting strip into pressure engagement with said glass panes.

3. In a window structure, a metal bar of generally T-shaped cross section formounting two opposed glass window panes upon opposite sides thereof, a mounting strip of resilient rubber-like material snugly retained upon said T-shaped section and substantially enclosing the stem of said T-shaped section, said mounting strip having two opposed longitudinal grooves therein for receiving the margins of said two opposed glass panes respectively, said two opposed grooves each extending alongside and adjacent to a flange of said T-shaped section, said strip having two expansible grooves respectively extending alongside said two pane-receiving grooves and located on opposite sides of the stem of said T-shaped section, and filler strips forcibly expanding said two expansible grooves and compressing the adjacent portions of said mounting strip into pressure engagement with the glass panes and with the stem of said T-shaped section.

4. In a window structure, a metal bar of generally T-shaped cross section for mounting two opposed glass window panes upon opposite sides thereof, a mounting strip of resilient rubberlike material snugly retained upon said T-shaped section and substantially enclosing the stem of said T-shaped section, said mounting strip having two opposed longitudinal grooves therein for receiving the margins of said two opposed glass panes respectively, said two opposed grooves each extending alongside and adjacent to a flange of said T-shaped section, said strip having one expansible groove extending adjacent both of said pane-receiving grooves and located outwardly beyond the edge of the stem of said T-shaped section, and a filler strip forcibly expanding said expansible groove and compressing the material of said mounting strip in opposite directions against said opposed glass panes.

ROBERT O. MORGANN. RUSSELL J. BUSH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,056,024 Stuart Sept. 29, 1936 2,189,138 Eichner Feb. 6, 1940 2,205,538 Owen June 25, 1940 2,469,183 Small May 3, 1949 2,492,566 Geyer Dec. 27, 1949 

